Still no news to report from Sharks Territory

With the Stanley Cup finals getting started — finally — I thought this might be a good time to put up a new Working The Corners posting.

I only wish I had some actual news to report. The word from the Sharks organization is . . . there’s no word to be passed on. Nothing has changed since DP wrote two weeks ago, before heading off on a well-deserved vacation, that Sharks GM Doug Wilson wasn’t ready to say anything yet about his post-playoffs review of the franchise.

Wilson would not confirm or deny reports out of Canada that coach Todd McLellan had known since three days after the season ended that he would be coming back, or that former Shark player Bryan Marchment was a candidate to move from a front office position to an assistant coaching job.

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“You know that I don’t respond to rumors,” Wilson told DP.

That’s still the case. Sorry I can’t be more help.

Anyway, I spent part of last week in Los Angeles working on a couple of stories that you may have already seen. One was looking at the long-running partnership of Dean Lombardi and Darryl Sutter, and the success that they’re enjoying with the Kings. (If you missed it, check out the “Sharks Headlines” listing on the right of this posting.) The other story, which ran today in the print editions, looked at how this Kings run has given Southern California a small dose of hockey fever.

Lombardi, by the way, spoke highly of the current Sharks team and its prospects for the future.

“They’re not going anywhere,” Lombardi said. “It’s not like that’s an old team.”

Anyway make sure to enjoy the finals. With the collective-bargaining agreement expiring, who knows when we’ll be seeing hockey again.

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Lombardi knows how to make DW complacent and comfortable with what he got in his Sharks team – just so, Kings can dominate the pacific division in the coming years.

Tutone37

I think the Devils win the Cup, either in six or seven games.

I am impressed by the Kings roll, they’ve literally stompled on the top three seeds in the West, which is the best conference in the NHL. Their game 5 victory vs. PHX showed they are able to overcome adversity.

But I have strong, strong doubts that they’ll be able to keep up this tremendously impressive run for four straight rounds. Sooner or later they’re going to get punched in the face more than once- will they come through?

Regardless of the East/West difference in talent, the best eastern conference teams are always just as good as the top western conference teams. I think Brodeur’s veteran experience will be a factor in at least one game, and NJ will win one laugher.

If L.A responds and comes thru, then kudos, they definitely deserve it. But I just spent one day watching the sharks game 3, 4 goal comeback from last year’s series, and I think the Kings are going to wilt.

Either way, as a member of the goalie mob, it’ll be a treat to see an NHL legend and the league’s most technically sound and flexible goalie in the league duke it out.

Dirty

That expiring CBA is going to wreak havoc in the NHL.

gbs417

Dirty,

That expiring CBA is a train wreck that everyone sees coming but none of the concerned parties seem willing to stop.

The last time this happened the NHL was at a peak of exposure. Now, the NHL has finally clawed it’s way back closer to those old days, but sadly the NHLPA and NHL will let this crash again.

tifososquali

Thanks Mark!

No surprises on no news about the no news….

I guess DW did not want to respond to rumours on the fact that there are no news to be said…of course there is always news…it’s just a matter of whether they want to share them or not…

In any case, I liked the article on Darryl and Dean, good job.

MADFAN!

Just read the “Latest Headline” story, after some time away from the Merc/WTC.

“May 15, 2002 — a day hard-core Sharks fans remember as a 1-0 loss to Colorado in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals, the day Teemu Selanne missed an open net and everything changed.”

I can’t get that image out of my head. It’s my lasting memory of Selanne. WIDE OPEN NET! Grrrrr….

Agree that the CBA will mess up next season. Only positive I can draw from it is that the Sharks’ new pricing/profit structure will be affected if they don’t play 41 home games .

MADFAN!

Almaden Fin Fan

Thanks Mark for the post and the great print articles. It’s nice to see what the Sharks are contributing (indirectly) to these playoffs besides Steve Bernier (NJ).

I’ve been on the DW treadmill long enough to know when the auto-program workout ends, so no use beating that horse.

I am interested in whether or not the players themselves feel as strongly about their position going into this next CBA negotation as they did the last time this came up (and failed). It seems to me that neither side wants to push this to the brink this time, especially since the NBC deal is really striking gold for the league and increasing the fan base for all. It’ll be an up-and-down summer, no doubt, but I suspect that the season will remain largely intact. (My $0.02 worth).

Sharkz

Kings in 6. This is the team many off us felt was the team to beat before the season stayed. They underperformed in the regular season and are finally playing to their abilities – and it’s more than the Carter trade. I think they’d be here without him.

Sharks need a Sanchez for Melky move or it’s going to be a long season.

Sharkz

I hate Swype…

http://G-MAIL.COM LORI LARMAN

People need to look at the ownership of the Sharks. Two have left for other teams. Lombardi Showing that his feelings are with the kings. Sitting in front of the Sharks banner talking to the kings coach. How are we Sharks fans suppose to feel? If his feeling are with the kings please sell his interest in the Sharks. So we can get things settled in the front office. So Doug knows who he is dealing.

Clowe’s Backhand

SoCal loves Swype.

slappy

LORI LARMAN@10
“If his feeling are with the kings please sell his interest in the Sharks.”

Where have you read that Dean Lombardi is one of the owners of the Sharks? Ive never heard that before. DL was a GM with the Sharks.

Here’s a list of Sharks owners per wiki re: SVSE. Theres no DL on the list. The League will likely require Greg Jamison to sell his interest because he now has an ownership stake in the Coyotes.

Eleven owners have a stake in the organization as of the 2010-11 season:

From the organization’s purchase of the team until October 2011, Jamison served as the Sharks’ governor at meetings of the National Hockey League’s Board of Governors. In October 2011, Kevin Compton took over the role when Jamison became involved with a group looking to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes.

Former investors include former San Francisco 49ers player Brent Jones, venture capitalist Boots Del Biaggio, and former Brocade CEO Greg Reyes.

Teejay

Hate to say it, but it’s the Kings walking off with the cup. They have the better goaltending.

Daveo

Now that the cup is being won by a “quick” agile goaltender Dougie can jump on the band wagon and get one of those goalies for next year.

Shark Fin

Yawn

Iafrate

i bet brodeur was wishing it was Marleau on the OT breakaway…

just give the cup to the kings and the MVP to Quick. I cant remember a POs having been so one sided in a long time. the kings are a machine.

DW has been dreaming our core plays like this during the POs…he can keep dreaming along with some here. Quick is playing like a PO MVP at 23. We are still waiting for PM to play like that at what 32 after 14 years?

mu72

Sharks used to own the pacific div. and they used to be a contender.

that is all gone now.

now it is LA Kings cup champs, and Sharks chumps. thanks Wilson.

slappy

Iafrate
“just give the cup to the kings”

Not so fast. Devils and Kings are 2 very balanced, evenly matched teams for strengths/weaknesses. Jersey clogs the neutral zone to disrupt the opponents’ attack and LA uses aggressive forecheck to try to gain entry to the O zone. LAs PK is one of the best in the POs whereas their PP stinks. Jerseys PP is quite good. I am cheering for the Kings but I wouldnt mind if the Devils win. Both teams are quite likeable, imo.

JB

Thoughts on game one: Two days off before Saturday’s game. Yeah, that’s not needlessly long…

The east coast favoritism is already setting my teeth on edge. All games start at 8pm EST, regardless of which coast the game is played on. TV rules everything. But that will do the Kings a disservice, as their bodies will tell them they are home but they will be forced into an artificially early routine. Do not think it the same for the road team because it’s not. Good luck with that guys.

I sympathize with the Kings fans, accustomed to their good broadcasters but now probably tortured by the NBC crew’s eastern bias in the game coverage (though pregame, postgame and intermission coverage has been fine in that regard.) Most noticeably, all the in-game coaching from the crew is for the Devils’ benefit; for example, what NJ has to do to better gain entry into the zone, how to shoot on Quick, why nothing was Marty’s fault, etc. Ack.

Eddie Oaf managed to get a Blackhawks reference in the first few minutes of the game. At least he’s predictable.

Otherwise it was a great hockey game. I am glad the Kings won, and it’s strange to root for them at all, let alone to take it all. Is hell freezing over?

Iafrate

slappy-

unless something drastic happens the devils lose in 5.

nj scored one goal on a fluke deflection. otherwise quick gets another shutout.

LA is 9-0 on the road and has beaten the 1, 2, 3 seeds without blinking an eye.

the kings are a machine.

Ohh Schnap

The Sharks should have won the cup in 2006. Instead they will be the only Cali team without a cup. What a group of jokers. I don’t plan on watching much sharks hockey next season…

Tom (fm Quinzee)

Slappy, just to be disagreeable, I’ll disagree w/ you about Brodeur wishing it were Marleau on the breakaway. I’m not in any way a Marleau fan, but I believe we have to give him credit for what his skills are. That type of play is actually the one area where he does well. On the other hand, if it were a loose puck in the crease with two defenders to fight through? Marleau would look for a line change.

Tom (fm Quinzee)

OOOPS – I meant Iafrate – I was reading the back & forth between you two. Sorry.

kingfish100

It’s no consolation and the sight of Teemu missing that open net still sits in my mind but if the truth be told he had a broken wrist and had already had six injections there and couldn’t even feel his stick. You might say he shouldn’t have been playing but hockey players do and don’t complain.

On the other hand the Sharks’ ticket price increase is a real kick in the face after a very mediocre season. Kudos to NBC for stepping up but I guess the deal isn’t enough to prevent NHL season ticket holders from shouldering more of the costs than any other pro sport. I feel like being used and sell more tickets each year. Can you imagine the ticket cost without cost certainly brought on by the last CBA with salary caps?? Maybe we all need a year off to save up the $ and for the Sharks to figure out how to win and at least somewhat justify the price increase. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Teejay

I noticed that Frank Somerville said on the Channel 2 news last night “it should have been the Sharks playing the Devils”. Well Frank, I know you’re a Sharks fan, but……………….?

slappy

Teejay@25
Let me guess: Frank is still clutching onto the false notion that since the Sharks beat the Kings in the last 2 games of regular season, but for the evil matchup vs the Blues, the Sharks could have gotten into the the WCF and beaten the Kings and be in the SCF as we speak…

slappy

Iafrate@20
“the kings are a machine.”

Maybe. Hope you are right. Would like Sutter and Lombadi to finally win the Cup. And for the WC to get the Cup back where it belongs. But deflected puck or not, the 1st game was no walk in the park for the Kings -Jersey had the Kings on their heels for most of the 3rd period and for the early part of OT.

nolimits

I suppose you all already know Lidstrom has retired.
An end has come to a great Wings era but…
MO money, MO money to go get the top free agents

Hate to say it but the Kings, with that unreal playoff road record, are going to be cup champs.

I can’t imagine having another stoppage after what the last one caused. Didn’t ESPN dump NHL games not long after that last stoppage? Does ESPN even talk about the NHL more then 2 minutes per hour show? Is there anyway to recall Buttmann!!!!!!

SJGR8WHITE

What happens to players contracts IF they lock out another season. Does that mean that if you had one year left on your contract it expires regardless if there is a season or not? Or does that mean it’s still good until there is an actual season? Anyone?

Tom (fm Quinzee)

sjgr8white – all depends on what they agree to in negotiations. But if that issue isn’t addressed specifically, and the lockout means an entire season gone, a contract will expire on the expiration date agreed to. No “grandfathering” it forward one season to make up for the lost season.

I say this based on what I’ve read about in the past and my own experience in negotiations (on the labor team). Last year’s NFL free agency scramble was an example of what happens.

SJGR8WHITE

Thanks Tom, appreciate it!

Tom (fm Quinzee)

Slappy, you’re giving Frank Sullivan far more credit than he’s due. That was probably some happy talk lead-in, being read off a teleprompter, to make the report have a “local hook” to it and make it seem as if Frank has a clue.

Gotta say that the Kings do look impressive. Holding the Devils to 17 shots total, and the Devils goal was a total fluke – hockey happens? The D on both teams plays far more tenaciously than what we see here – and doesn’t get caught out of position nearly as often.

I hope L.A. beats the Devils. Personally, I have nothing against the Devils and I’m glad they beat the Rangers. The problem I have with NHL is the annoying announcers. I’m tired of hearing all their bla bla bla about the east coast teams. Go Cali!!!

ZEKE

We all knew the Kings would be a tough team this year — they were tough last year without the injured Kopitar. Getting rid of terry murray was also very good move.

And look, their call-ups were pretty good, too. And while we were looking at Nash, LAK swiped Carter from Columbus.

Just hope the Devils and Kings have a long series — Sharks should be a lot more rested at the start of next season than LAK.

Clemenza

“Just give the cup to the kings…”

Wow…would’ve thought that someone with such a self purported VAST knowledge of the sport would know that it’s not over until the handshake line.

& still can’t let the Marleau thing go, can you?

Get over it.

Jeff Kissell

If I remember correctly the Selanne open net “incident” was in the first period of a game the Sharks lost 1-0. I’m not sure how he or Nabokov for that matter, takes the fall for that game.

MikeR

@JB

“The east coast favoritism is already setting my teeth on edge. All games start at 8pm EST”

If the games started at 7:30pm PST, they wouldn’t finish until 12:30am EST, and the east coast fans wouldn’t see the end of the games – which is a lot worse than missing the first period.

mu72

let’s see. the devils avg 30 shots per game in the playoffs, and they only get 18 in 3 1/2 periods. and that includes a kings team that was rusty from a 8 day layoff and momentum killer waiting period.

the Kings did not play anywhere near their previous playoff games level offensively by their top 2 lines in most of that game, and rust was the main reason.

in fact, the Kings did not take advantage of brodeur’s long known weakness on wraparound shots and bad angle shots at his feet. they did not use that weapon last night, and if they use that in the next few games, they should score more on him.

Tom (fm Quinzee)

Selanne’s blown wraparound was late in game 6 – would have forced OT. Oh, well.

Oscarthedog

Damn, how many open net shots did the Devils miss last night? Hopefully can come back and win Game 2. It’s bad enough Dallas and Anaheim have won the Cup, but if LA does too…Too much for a Sharks fan to swallow.

mu72

wow, big news.

” Pierre LeBrun says that the salary cap will rise to about $70 million this summer with the salary floor rising to $54 million.

Custance also writes that it is believed that trading players and teams taking on only a portion of salary is going to get added to the CBA. Custance says that small market teams are now in favor of adding this to the CBA.”

that is a $6mill increase in the cap. that is huge. and also allowing for more trades is the new clause that teams can swallow some of the salary of traded players. that will open up the possibilities of more trading partners among the less wealthy teams.

goodbye Marleau.

ZEKE

that’d be a big upgrade to the cap number — but isn’t the salary cap essentially subservient to the CBA negotiations? In other words, there is no cap without a CBA. Is this correct?

Tealfist

Tutone37 says:
May 30th, 2012 at 3:08 pm

I am impressed by the Kings roll, they’ve literally stompled on the top three seeds in the West…

.

No, Pronger’s with Philly now.

.

mu72

that is Lebrun’s best guess as to what the cap will be under the new CBA from his GM sources.

Johnny San Jose

I’m pulling for New Jersey but I can’t at all be upset if the Kings win this thing. They’ve played a surgical game and it’s paying off for them. I think NJ was unfortunate last night and could’ve had another tally or two.

My two favorite goaltenders are involved in this series… Brodeur and Ron Hextall with Hextall being my favorite. I’d like to see him get a Stanley Cup ring and also consider San Jose as his next venture…

Kevin

The bad news is that Todd McLellan is going to return. But the good news is that Sharks season ticket holders made payment on their season tickets, can still cancel and get a full refund until June 28, 2012.

Ownership was thinking about not having a coach all summer so they could save money, but decided to keep McLellan when he accepted a re-negated contract with a lower base salary. Matt Shaw was terminated and is being replace by Brian Marchment, so that ownership will not have to pay anyone, as Marchment is already on the payroll. Video Coach/PP coach/PK coach Jay Woodcroft also accepted a reduced salary and is staying.

“I liked the team defense but the goaltending could have been better.”

Q – “From an ex-coach’s point of view, what will help them succeed more next season?”

A – “Remember I was part of the coaching staff that lost 100 games quicker than any other in the history of the league, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

“Obviously the penalty kill has to improve. I think the team was too passive. I think Todd and his staff will instill a penalty kill scheme that pressures the opposition more.

“Defensively as well they spent too much time in their zone, goes back to the answer before about speed and quickness. Now it is hockey and there will be times when you will get pinned in your zone, but if you can get back to pucks quicker with support you can limit that time and move from into more transition.

“Another aspect is the players have to understand what roll they can reach and play to that on a nightly basis. I am a big believer in role players make or break a team.”

And those are the “carefully chosen words” of Drew Remenda on the 2011-12 Sharks.

icehawkey

Frank Summerville used to play hockey. My brother punched him in the face during a game in Oakland after Frank slashed him. They had a little scrum and got matching minors. Frank apologized after the game with some pompous “I’m a TV personality and I shouldn’t be doing stupid things like getting in a fight on the ice.” or something to that effect. MY BROTHER JUST LAUGHED AND CALLED HIM AN ASSHOLE.